Display rack



Jul 21, 1942. J. T..BII.ACKMON DISPLAY RACK Filed March 10, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 1 c mes T a 0 Y 4 j 7 l 6 y 1942- J. "r. BLACKMON 2,290,530- DISPLAY RACK Filed Max ch 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 James T B/ac/rma n,

y 21 J. T. BLAGKMO N 2,290,530

DISPLAY RACK Filed March 10, 1941 r 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 a 7 7% A? I amend/0'0 (James T. Black/110m,

%waflw v Wan s Patented July 21, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY RACK James '1. Blackmon, Roanoke, Va.

Application March 10, 1941, Serial No. 382,659

4 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in display racks, and has more particular reference to a sectional rack in which the sections may be fastened together and mounted upon the platform of a motor operated turntable to rotate with said platform, or which may be separated and utilized as separate stationary racks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved display rack of the above character in which the sections are of semi-circular form and adapted to be positioned back to back when secured together and mounted upon the rotary turntable platform, each section consisting in a plurality of terraced shelves, and each shelf embodying a plurality of trays adapted to receive carrier cartons for bottled goods.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the rack sections with collapsible legs which may be swung out of the way when the rack sections are secured together for use in connection with a turntable platform, certain of said legs cooperating to constitute means for fastening the rack sections to the turntable platform for rotation therewith.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a display rack constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sections of the rack being secured together and operatively associated with a motor operated turntable platform.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the construction shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on lines 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of one of the display rack sections illustrating details of the rear folding legs of said section.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the front leg of one of the display rack sections.

Figure '7 is a side elevational view of one of the display rack sections with the legs operatively positioned.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one of the fastening devices for securing the rack sections together at the top; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the trays forming part of the terraced shelves of the rack sections.

present display rack consists of a pair of semicircular rack sections which are of similar construction and respectively indicated generally at A and A. These rack sections are suitably formed of wire so as to be provided with a plurality of terraced shelves I, 2 and 3. The shelves 1 and 2 each includes inner and outer ring members 5 and 5' and the shelf 3 includes a single ring member 5'. The ring members have portions 6 which go to make up the back of the rack sections and are arranged in opposed relation when the rack sections are assembled as a single unit to be employed on a turntable. The shelves further include radially arranged members 6 welded or otherwise secured to the ring members and cooperate therewith in the support of trays 1 that go to complete the shelves for the support of cartons of bottled goods, as shown at 8. The trays are welded or otherwise secured in place on the shelves. The shelves are braced to each other by members 8'. Arranged between the shelves l and 2 are curved members 9' connected to the shelf I by members l0 welded or otherwise secured thereto and are also connected to some of the members 6 and to the members 2|. The members 9' act as stops for legs when in folded position and which will be hereinafter described in detail. The'trays 1 are preferably of the form generally shown in Figure 9, and each is of a size to snugly receive the well known type of carrier carton B for bottled goods shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. Thus, a plurality of these carrier cartons may be placed in the trays of each shelf so that the bottled goods placed in said carrier trays may be displayed in a desirable manner.

The rack sections A and A may be separated and utilized as separate stationary semi-circular racks as indicated generally with respect to one of the sections in Figure 7, or said rack sections A and A may be secured together in back to back relation for use as a circular rack that may be supported upon and connected to the platform 8 of a turntable having an operating motor at 9, for rotation with said turntable platform. The ring members 5' of the uppermost shelves have means associated therewith for detachably securing the rack sections together, which means consist of an upstanding bar [0 at one side of each rack section rigid with and rising from the adjacent ring member 5' and having pivoted thereto a swinging catch bar I I mounted to pivot on a horizontal axis [2 and offset at one end as at l3 to detachably engage the upper ring member 5 of the adjacent rack section. By swinging the catch bars II from the operative full line position of Figure 8 in the direction of the arrow a, they may be disengaged to permit separation of the rack sections. Also, the pivots I2 for the catch bars II have spacers I 4 thereon between the members Ill and II so as to space the latter and permit the insertion of a suitable sheet-like sign there-between as indicated by dotted lines at I5 in Figure 9. With the sign disposed between the members I0 and II and resting upon the spacers I4, said sign will be effectively supported in position at the top of the display rack.

Each section of the display rack is provided at the back thereof with collapsible legs l6 piv oted to swing upon horizontal axes H at the upper ends thereof, so that said legs may be either extended to operative position or collapsed to inoperative position as clearly indicated at Figure 4. Suitable means, such as sliding bands I8 may be provided for releasably holding the legs IS in their vertical operative position, the bands I8 cooperating with the legs I6 and adjacent vertical frame members of the rack section for such purpose and in a generally well known manner. Each rack section further includes a hinged front leg IQ of generally U-shape hinged at its ends as at 29 to some of the radial members 6 of the shelf I and said latter referred to members 6 are offset, as at 2i, to prevent the leg I9 from sliding thereon. The intermediate portion of the leg I9 is bent to provide a central loop portion 22, and the arrangement is such that when the two sections of the rack are assembled in back to back relation and the legs I9 of said rack sections are swung inwardly and upwardly against the stop members 9', their intermediate portions will over-lap and the loops of said legs will embrace opposite sides of the driven shaft 23 carrying the turntable platform 8. Thus, the legs I9 will rest upon the turntable platform 8 and will effectively grip the projecting end of the driven shaft 23 of said platform 8 so as to cause the rack to rotate with said turntable. When thus supported, the entire rack is elevated above the supporting surface S upon which the motor 9 of the turntable platform is placed.

If desired, suitable loops 24 may be rigidly attached to the inner sides of the trays I forming the upper-most shelf of the rack so that a circular sign may be disposed to rest upon these loops and be supported at the top of the rack within the space surrounded by said trays I of the upper shelves of both rack sections. To facilitate assembly of the rack sections in back to back relation, suitable wire guide members 25 may be provided adapted to straddle the straight portions of the ring members 5 of the rack sections at the back of the latter, preparatory to swinging the catch bars II to vertical operative position. The specific formation of the rack sections from wire and the exact manner of bracing the parts and connecting them may vary considerably from that described briefly heretofore. However, the lower one of the inner-most pair of rings 5 forming part of the lower-most shelf of each rack section is offset as at 26 to form a stop for the associated swinging front leg member I9 when the latter is swung downwardly and forwardly to the operative position of Figure 7. In order to disconnect the rack sections and remove them from the motor operated turntable, it is simply necessary to release the catch bars II and then lift upwardly upon the rack sections while pre venting upwardly movement of the motor operated turntable. When this is done, the legs I9 will swing downwardly and disengage from the shaft 23.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided a display rack which may be utilized in two different ways to display bottled goods in carrier cartons, in a highly attractive and desirable manner. The construction is such as to insureefiicient operation and to provide a display rack of the character described which is well adapted for carrying out the stated objects of the invention.

What I claim as new is:

l. A display rack of the character described comprising a pair of semi-circular rack sections, each of said rack sections having collapsible front and rear legs, and means including the front legs of said rack sections for securing the latter together in back to back relation and for mounting the connected rack sections upon; the platform of a rotary turntable so as to rotate with said platform, said front legs comprising U-shape members having central loops in the intermediate portions thereof and adapted to over-lap and completely embrace the driven shaft of the turntable platform so as to connect the rack sections to said platform for rotation therewith.

2. In a display rack, a pair of semi-circular separable rack sections including terraced shelves, legs hinged on the rack sections to assume folded position overlapping each other and extended supporting position, said legs having ofisets to embrace a shaft of a turntable on which they rest when in folded position.

.3. In a display rack, a pair of semi-circular separable rack sections including terraced shelves, legs hinged on the rack sections to assume folded position overlapping each other and extended supporting position, said legs having offsets to embrace a shaft of a turntableon which they rest when in folded position, said rack sections having portions extending laterally from the lower end of each section to actas stops for the legs to engage when in supporting position.

4. In a display rack, a pair of semi-circular separable rack sections including terraced shelves, legs hinged on therack sections to assume folded position overlapping each other and extended supporting position, said ,legs having offsets to embrace a shaft of a turntable on which they rest when in folded position, said rack sections having portions offset to act as stops for the legs to engage when in supporting position, and members on said rack sections for the legs to abut when in folded position to prevent said legs from moving out of embracing relation with the shaft of the turntable.

JAMES T. BLACKMON. 

